Spring loaded ratchet clamp



Sept 7, 1954 T. R. SWEET 2,688,351

SPRING LOADED RATCHET CLAMP Filed Nov. 19, 1951 mwgg IN V EN TOR.

THEODORE R. SWEET Patented Sept. 7, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRING LOADED RATCHET CLAMP p Theodore R. Sweet, San Diego, Calif.

Application November 19, 1951, Serial No. 257,112

4 Claims. l

My invention relates to a spring loaded ratchet clamp and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a clamp of this class which may be set upon various objects whereupon the jaws of the clamp are spring loaded against the article on which they are set preventing vibration of the work or the article from loosening thev jaws of the clamp,

Second, to provide a spring loaded ratchet clamp of this class having-jaws which may be set in springl loaded relationshipv with each other on opposite sides of a certain article of Wood* or the like in which shrinkage of the` material is compensated for by the spring loaded relationship of the jaws which arev urged toward the work whereby the clamp maintains a firm grip and compressive holding relationship on the article regardless of shrinkage thereof,

Third', to provide a spring loaded ratchet clamp of this class which may be very quickly set in compressive relationship with various articles and which may be readily and easily released therefrom,

Fourth, to provide a spring loaded ratchet clamp of this class which may be used as a spreading` device in which the spreading jaws are spring loaded and maintain irm engagement with the internal portions or intermediate portions of work regardless of vibration or yield thereof,

Fifth, to provide a spring loaded ratchet clamp having a novel control means for operating ratchet pawls which are spring loaded relative to the ratchet rack of, the movable jaw of said spring loaded ratchet clamp,

Sixth, to provide a spring loadedratchet clamp of this class which is very compact and strong in proportion to its. size,

Seventh, to provide a spring loaded ratchet clamp of this. class. having novel means for spring loading a carriage in which the ratchet pawls are pivoted adjacent to a stationary frame in which the jaw engaged by said ratchet pawls is slidably mounted, and

` Eighth, to provide a spring loaded ratchet clamp of this class which is very simple and economical in construction, eiiicient in operation and which will not readily deteriorate or getV out of order.

With these and other objects in View as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will' be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the (ci. p14-303)' 2 charactersof reference thereon forming a part of this application in which:

Fig. 1 is side elevational view of my spring loaded ratchet clamp showin-g portions thereof broken away and in section to amplify the illustration and showing both compressive and spreader jaws position. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View similar to Fig. l showing parts removed from the side of the carriage frame toexpose the ratchet pawl mechanism and Fig. 3 isa sectional view taken from the line 3---3` of Fig. 2 showing portions broken away to amplify the illustration.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing.

The frame l, jaw 2, lever 3; carriage 4, spring 5, ratchet pawls 6 and l, pa-wl con-trol plate 8, springs 9, l0, and III, car-n lf2, handle spring 4I3, coverV plate M and the spreader jaw I5 constitute the principal parts and. portions of my spring loaded ratchet clamp.

The frame I is provided with an integral clamp jaw la having a removable pressure pad lli as shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings andthe jaw 2 is a substantially L-shapedmember sl'idably mounted in the bore Icl ofthe frame l`, which bore is rectangular in cross sectionandy adapted to prevent turning of the ratchet shank 2a ofthe jawK 2 therein. The extending jaw portionV 2b' is provided with a removable jaw pad 2c similar to the member lb of the jaw portion la ofthe frame l. The jaw` 2 is provided with a row ofi ratchet teeth 2d engageableL by the ratchet pawls E and 'l which are mountedv on themovable carriage 4 on the pins 6a and la., respectively. It will be noted that the pin 6a is stationarily xed to the carriage 4- While the pin la. is mounted on the end ofthe lever 3 which is pivoted to the pin 3a fixed tothe carriage d. The carriage 4 isa U-shaped carriage as show-n in Fig. 3 of the drawing and is reciprocally mounted in the frame l longitudinally parallel with the bore Ic and engages the compression spring 5 which is a preloaded spring tending to force the carriage- 4` toward the endI ld of the frame l. The ratchet pawls 6` and l' are engageable with the ratchetl teeth 2d and` are provided withv control pins 6b and lbA respectivelywhich project therefrom and are engageable by the pawl control plate. B. The pawl control plate 8. is provided with lingers 8a and 8b which lie in a plane adjacent the sides ofthe ratchet pawls E and l. The spring 9 mounted in the carriage 4' tends to force the pawl 6 into engagement with the ratchet teeth 2d of the jaw 2 while the spring I interconnecting one end of the ratchet pawl I and the lever 3 tends to force the end of the ratchet pawl 'I into engagement with the ratchet teeth 2d of the jaw 2. The spring II tends to pivot the pawl control plate 8 in a clockwise direction about the axis of the pin 6a while the cam I2 mounted on the pin I2a in the top 4a of the carriage 4 is engageable with the arm 6c of the pawl control plate 6 for holding the same against tension of the spring II in the solid line position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing so that both of the ratchet pawls 6 and 'I are engageable with the teeth 2d. The spring I3 tends to force the lever 3 away from the manual handle portion Ie which is xed on the frame I. It will be here noted that the top 4a of the carriage 4 is provided with openings which receive the projecting ends of the pins 6a and 3.a and is covered by the cover plate I4 which maintains the same in place. The cover plate I4 is provided with an opening therein through which the arm I2a of the cam I2 extends which is not shown in the drawing. The cover plate I4 is secure to the frame I by means of the screws I4a as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. The spreader jaw I5 is provided with a rectangular bore portion I5a slidably positioned on the shank 2a of the jaw 2 and is provided with a pin receiving opening I5b adapted to receive a pin extendable through any one of the openings 2e in the shank 2a of the jaw 2. This spreader jaw I5 is thus fixed in certain position on the jaw 2 by means of the pin I6 and this spreader jaw I5 is provided with a jaw portion I5c having a compression pad I5d arranged to operate in opposition to the pad Ib for spreading various objects apart as desired.

The operation of my spring loaded ratchet clamp is substantially as follows:

When the pawl control plate 8 is in position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings the lever 3 may be consecutively pressed downwardly and released upwardly relative to the handle le on the frame I which causes pivotal movement of the lever 3 on the pin 3a carried by the carriage 4. The pin la pivoted to the end of the lever 3 carries the ratchet pawl 'l which engages the teeth 2d and forces the shank 2a of the jaw 2 upwardly in the direction as indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 1 of the drawings, each time the lever 3 is pressed downwardly in kthe direction as indicated by the arrow B. When the lever 3 is moved upwardly the pawl 6 engages the respective teeth 2d holding the jaw 2 until the ratchet pawl I is again engaged for a successive forceful movement of the jaw 2 in the direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 of the drawings. When an object positioned between the jaw pads lb and 2c is forcefully engaged each successive movement of the lever 3 forces the carriage 4 downwardly in the direction of the arrow C compressing the spring 5 and heavily loading the engaged ratchet pawls 6 and 'I so that they maintain a spring loaded pressure upon the jaw 2 in the direction of the arrow A forcefully clamping an object between the pads Ib and 2c.

It will be here noted that when it is desired to release the ratchet pawls 6 and I from the teeth 2d of the jaw 2, the cam I2 is rotated in a clockwise direction until its side is adjacent the arm 8c permitting the spring Il to force the projection 8a into engagement with the pin 6b on the pawl 6 which tends to overcome the tension of the spring 9 and to release said pawl 6 from its engagement with the teeth '2d by pivoting the pawl 6 over the axis of the pin 6a. It will be noted that the ratchet pawl 6 must first be initially released from the teeth 2dv before the spring II may act as hereinbefore described. In order to release the pawl 6 the lever 3 is pressed downwardly in the direction as indicated by the arrow B toward the handle Ie which forces the pawl I into engagement with the teeth 2d of the jaw 2 slightly raising the same relative to the frame I which automatically releases the bearing on the ratchetpawl Spermitting the spring II to create suicient compression of the project 8a on the pin 6b to retract the end of the ratchet pawl 6 from the particular tooth 2d which it engages. Release of the lever 3 permits the spring I3 to move the same in the opposite direction, whereupon the pin 'Ib engages the projection 8b of the pawl control plate 8 which retracts the end of the pawl 1 from the ratchet 2d which it engages permitting freely slidable relationship of the shank 2a in the bore Ic of the jaw 2 and frame I respectively. When it is desired to spread certain objects apart the pad I5d and Ib are inserted therebetween and the lever 3 is operated in the manner hereinbefore described which causes separation of the jaw arm I la and the jaw arm I5c.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions I do not wish to be limited to this -particular construction, combination and arrangement but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a spring loaded ratchet clamp, a frame, a jaw member reciprocally mounted in said frame having ratchet teeth thereon, said frame having a stationary jaw adjacent said first mentioned jaw, a carriage in said frame mounted for rectilinear reciprocation therein, a spring tending to force said carriage in one direction coinciding with the tightening direction of said rst mentioned jaw relative to said frame, a pair of pawls pivotally mounted in said carriage and a lever for operating said pawls for progressively moving said movable jaw relative to said jaw on said frame whereby said spring is compressed by said carriage and the tension of said spring is transferred through said pawls to said jaw reciprocally mounted in said frame.

2. In a spring loaded ratchet clamp, a frame, a jaw member reciprocally mounted in said frame having ratchet teeth thereon, said frame having a stationary jaw adjacent said first mentioned jaw, a carriage in said frame mounted for rectilinear reciprocation therein, a spring tending to force 'said carriage in one direction coinciding with the tightening direction of said rst mentioned jaw relative to said frame, a pair of pawls pivotally mounted in said carriage and a lever for operating said pawls for progressively moving said movable jaw relative to said jaw on said frame whereby said spring is compressed by said carriage and the tension of said spring is transferred through Said pawls to said jaw reciprocally mounted in said frame, one of said pawls being pivotally mounted on the inner extending end of said lever, said lever being pivotally mounted on said carriage, the other pawl being mounted on said carriage, and a pawl control plate engageable with said pawls for disengaging the same from said rst mentioned jaw member.

3. In a spring loaded ratchet clamp, a frame, a jaw member reciprocally mounted in said frame having ratchet teeth thereon, said frame having a stationary jaw adjacent said first mentioned jaw, a carriage in said frame mounted for rectilinear reciprocation therein, a spring tending to force said carriage in one direction coinciding with the tightening direction of said first mentioned jaw relative to said frame, a pair of pawls pivotally mounted in said carriage and a lever for operating said pawls for progressively moving said movable jaW re1- ative to said jaw on said frame whereby said spring is compressed by said carriage and the tension of said spring is transferred through said pawls to said jaw reciprocally mounted in said frame, one of said pawls being pivotally mounted on the inner extending end of said lever, said lever being pivotally mounted on said carriage, the other pawl being mounted on said carriage, a pawl control plate engageable with said pawls for disengaging the same from said iirst mentioned jaw member, and a cam on said frame for shifting said ratchet pawl control plate.

4. In a spring loaded ratchet clamp, a frame having a bore therethrough, a jaw member on said frame, a second jaw member shiftably mounted in said bore having ratchet teeth thereon, a carriage in said frame movable parallel to the axis of said bore, a compression spring tending to force said carriage in one direction coincontrol plate pivotally mounted on said carriage and having projection portions engageable with said ratchet pawls for disengaging the same from the teeth of said second mentioned jaw, a cam for pivoting said pawl control plate for disengaging said ratchet paWls from the teeth of said second mentioned jaw, and a handle fixed to said frame and extending therefrom in spaced relationship to said lever, and spring means operatively mounted on said handle for forcing said lever away from said handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 978,067 Schwanengel Dec. 6, 1910 1,189,144 Lippincott June 27, 1916 1,257,216 Greutmann Feb. 19, 1918 1,783,827 Carr Dec. 2, 1930 2,031,815 Berman Feb. 25, 1936 2,599,900 Donohue June 10, 1952 

